A supermodel is a highly-paid elite fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling. The elite models who are given the appellation of "supermodel" often share similar traits. These models are reputable in the fashion industry; usually work for top fashion designers and labels; have multi-million dollar contracts, endorsements and campaigns; and most importantly, have branded themselves to be household names associated to their modeling profession. The true supermodels were known on a first-name basis. The term "supermodel" took hold in the popular culture of the 1980s and 1990s. However, according to Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women by Michael Gross, the first known use of the term "supermodel" was in the 1940s by an agent named Clyde Matthew Dessner in a "how-to" book he wrote about modeling.
Here is the actual fact. The very first supermodel was Lisa Fonssagrives.
She is considered by most in the fashion industry as the world's first supermodel. Fonssagrives was in most of the major fashion and general interest magazines from the 1930s to the 1950s, including Town & Country, Life, Vogue, the original Vanity Fair and Time. The relationship between her image on over 200 Vogue covers and her name recognition led to the future importance of Vogue in shaping future supermodels.
Cheryl Tiegs,
Veruschka,
Jean Shrimpton ,
and fifteen other top models as "supermodels". The term supermodel gained currency in the 1960s by analogy with Andy Warhol's "Superstars". Of the prominent models of the 1960s, Twiggy (Lesley Hornby) is an example of a supermodel of the era, as is Donyale Luna
the first African American model to appear in Vogue. Following suit in Donyale's trend, Beverly Johnson
was the first African American model to be on the cover of American Vogue. In the 1970s, some models became more prominent as their names became more recognizable to the general public. These models included Janice Dickinson (credited herself in 2003 as being the first supermodel and claims to have coined the term "supermodel"),
Iman Abdulmajid ,
Gia Caranji (who died of a drug overdose) and
Christie Brinkley ,
In the 1980s, fashion designers began advertising on television and billboards. Models became more familiar to the masses. They were no longer nameless individuals. Models embraced old-style glamour, which allowed them to replace actresses as symbols of luxury and wealth. In this regard, many viewed supermodels not so much as individuals but as images.
By the 1990s, supermodels became prominent in the media. Earning the title "supermodel" meant that the model was a superstar, winning fame simply for being a "personality". They did talk shows. They were cited in gossip columns. They partied at the trendiest nightspots. They landed movie roles. They inspired franchises. They dated or married movie stars. And, of course, they made millions. "We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day." uttered by supermodel Linda Evangelista has become the most famous quote in modeling history. Fame allowed them to take control of their careers, market themselves, and earn higher fees. In 1991, Christy Turlington signed a contract with Maybelline that paid her $800,000 for twelve days' work each year.
Four years later, Claudia Schiffer reportedly earned $12 million for her various modeling assignments. Authorities ranging from Karl Lagerfield to TIME magazine had declared the supermodels more glamorous than movie stars. "SIX", also known as the "Big Six" were officially anointed by the fashion world as supermodels, they are Claudia Schiffer,
Cindy Crawford,
Kate Moss (who inspired the 'waif' look),
and "The Trinity" made up of Linda Evangelista,
Naomi Campbell,
and Christy Turlington.
In the mid-1990s, male models became popular and a few have been referred to as supermodels, such as Marcus Schenkenberg
and Tyson Beckford (or better known as Tyrese).
In the late 1990s, models were slowly being replaced by actresses, pop singers, or other celebrities on the covers of fashion magazines and ad campaigns. The rise of celebrity culture relegated many models to anonymity. A popular "conspiracy theory" explaining the supermodel's disappearance is that designers and fashion editors were sick of their "I won't get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day" attitude and made sure a small group of models would never again have the power of the Big Six. However, Charles Gandee, associate editor at Vogue, said, high prices and poor attitudes contributed less to the decline of the supermodel. As clothes became less flashy, designers turned to models who were less glamorous, so they wouldn't overpower the clothing. Majority of the models come from non-English speaking countries and cultures, making the cross over to mainstream spokesperson and cover star difficult. Runways are not as high-paying jobs as it used to be. It is now considered an internship process for the hundreds of anonymous girls who swarm the runways of New York, Paris and Milan each season. They are paid about $250 an hour on their first season. The opportunities for super stardom were waning in the modeling world.
Heidi Klum,
Adriana Lima,
and Tyra Banks.
However, according to Sean Patterson, president of Wilhelmina Models, New York,
"The fashion industry has shied away from models for so long that advertisers seeking a well-known face have to go back to supermodels like Ms. Turlington or Ms. Campbell or Ms. Moss....The industry hasn't allowed a new set of supermodels to be created."
During the mid-2000s and even today, fashion was again warming up to models. In 2007, Vogue has had so far 2 covers with models. The May 2007 issue showed the top 10 "World's Next Top Models", with names including Coco Rocha,
Jessica Stam,
Agyness Deyn,(voted Best New Model and rumoured to be the New Kate Moss)
and Hilary Rhoda.
In the July 2007 issue, Natalia Vodianova graced the cover. 
The spark returning to supermodel-dom was arguably due to the rise of Australian top model Gemma Ward, 
whose alienesque beauty spawned a new trend in fashion, much like Kate Moss. Sarah Mower, editor at style.com, made this quote in her review of the Fall 2007 John Galliano fashion show:
(Referring to Russian model Sasha Pivovarova,
the British duo Lily Cole, 
and Lily Donaldson
and Canadian Coco Rocha respectively.1705hrs
